Gym floor buyers guide
If you’re contemplating starting a new gym or renovating an existing facility one of your first priorities should of course be your budget, followed closely by gym flooring. In the same way that a Cardio area, HIIT Zone or Strength section can set your gym apart, so can your flooring.
Gym flooring isn't just about aesthetics though. Why? In a commercial setting your facilities surface will cop an absolute pounding. Therefore, your set up needs to be strong, safe and durable for a successful gym life. Let’s face it, commercial fitness equipment is heavy, so whether it’s cardio gear or a weightlifting rack you’ll need some density underneath all of that equipment weight. Add client foot traffic and general use into the mix and you have a recipe for potential bills that you didn't plan for. Not to mention, the correct flooring setup will help with some sound reduction when it comes to things like Olympic lifting. However, it will not reduce the sound of that one client who is 'Sir Grunts A Lot', can't win all the battles.
With all of that in mind it’s no surprise that gym flooring is one of the biggest sought after fitness products in the world. Within the Fitness Warehouse Commercial flooring universe there’s a few styles and options to choose from. Rubber Tiles, Custom Platforms and Inlays, Interlocking Foam Mats and Premium Astro Turf. Ultimately your flooring choices will be determined by your facility offerings and your overall budget.
Top line thoughts when it comes to flooring
From quality, safety, equipment preservation, function and cost we’ll run you through what you need to know about your gym flooring.
Quality: Even flooring is a critical component of a gym layout. Which means each rubber tile should have no toxic odour, consistently be the same thickness, have the same finish and most importantly be sealed for hygiene. We recommend 1m x 1m with 15mm thickness with minimal size tolerance (<2mm) from tile to tile. FYI, like all rubber compound products the tiles can very slightly expand in warmer weather and shrink in cold weather.
Safety: Rubber tiles and astro turf help protect your clients bodies with their shock absorbing qualities and they will also help protect the life of your equipment.
Smell: The right type of rubber flooring will have little to no smell. If rubber tiles have an overpowering rubber smell it’s likely they have been poorly manufactured with cheap materials.
Environment: Astro Turf and rubber tiles also help create comfort within your facility from a sound absorption and acoustic perspective. One of their characteristics is the ability to absorb sound and muffle the overall noises in your space. Thickness options include 15mm and 50mm. The thicker mat the more potential for sound absorption.
Cost Effective: When compared to the cost of carpet or concrete the outlay for rubber tiles is much more cost effective. In the long term rubber tiles will last longer, protect your clients and the life of your equipment. Furthermore, let us never discuss carpet in fitness facilities again. Good chat everybody.
Hygiene: If your rubber flooring is correctly sealed it will be easy to keep clean, be resistant to mould and mildew and more hygienic for you clients. If you’ve had lots of Sweaty Betties working out, having a surface that is easy to clean and quick to dry is important.
Things to know about installation
When laying down rubber tiles or astro turf it's important to make sure that the surface you intend to place them on is clean, debris free and even. With rubber tiles we recommend that you lay them down in a grid or brick pattern so that it helps to prevent movement and hide any minimal tolerance. Glue is optimal but you need to be sure that your rubber mats or astro turf will be staying in their intended location for a while.
Before laying down astro turf it's important to let the turf acclimatise to the area you will be installing it in. We recommend unrolling and laying flat for 24 hours prior to installation.
We strongly recommend organising flooring application prior to any equipment delivery. Even if it means you pay for two separate deliveries from your supplier, you will pay for this in the time you save.
Platforms: Things to consider when thinking about platforms for your set up include;
- You'll need enough space for your barbell, therefore, at least 3m of width is necessary.
- Will you be placing a half rack or mobile squat stand on the platform? If so a minimum depth of 2 metres can accommodate that style of equipment. In addition, it also provides the space required for your split stance while performing moves like the clean and jerk.
- Use 50mm mats for shock absorption and protection.
- Your platform should be embedded in a dimensional and stable metal frame to stop the mats and board from shifting.
- An MDF plywood platform adds that polished, professional look which elevates the aesthetic appeal of your set up.
In summary
As previously mentioned, flooring may be something that you deem too expensive in the beginning but in the long run we can guarantee that it will help with the longevity and overall success or your setup. For enquiries about custom platforms and inlays email commercial@fitnesswarehouse.com.au